When Aitor Karanka was asked if he would like to sign Ramirez he said: “For me, tomorrow!

“But first we need to know where we are next season and if he wants to stay here.”

Ramirez, 25, joined Boro in the January transfer window in a complex deal that involved him taking a massive cut in his reported £60,000 a week Southampton wages to make the sums add up for Boro.

He had a frustrating time at St Mary’s and played just 55 games in three seasons after a string of managerial changes and a patchy loan spell at a Hull side sliding towards Premier League relegation.

“So for me stepping down a division to come to Boro was not a big decision,” he said. “It gives me a chance to play.

“I need to play. The last few years have been disappointing, When you work hard in training but don’t get the chance to show what you can do on the pitch it is frustrating.

“The only way a player can show his quality is on the pitch and I think since I came here I have worked hard and played better in every game and for me that is important.”

Ramirez took Boro’s Uruguayan contingent up to four with team-mates Cristhian Stuani and Carlos de Pena plus keeping coach Leo Percovich and the schemer said that was a factor in his swift settling at Boro/

“The Uruguayans have helped me settle in,” he said, “When you have people who speak the same language and who are from the same country then, of course, it is easier to settle into a new place.

“It helps. They have explained how things work at Middlesbrough, how the team play, how important the club is to the supporters, what the manager expects.

“I know Cristhian from the national team and I spoke to him before I came here and he said only positive things so when I got the chance to I didn’t have to think too much.”

Ramirez has scored three goals in his six game so far and has been an instant hit but admits the switch to the Championship has been a bit of a culture shock.

“It has been harder than I thought,” he confessed.

“There are so many games - Tuesday, Saturday, Monday, Friday, Sunday – and they are all difficult. Every team is organised.

“Every game is tough. You have to work hard and keep going. You need a strong mentality and also quality.”

Ramirez shrugged off the plaudits after his two goals in a man of the match display against Wolves.

“I was happy to get the goals but it was more important that the team got the win,” he said.